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View synonyms for stunning

stunning

[ stuhn-ing ]

adjective

  1. causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength:

    a stunning blow.

    Synonyms: astounding, numbing

  2. of striking beauty or excellence:

    What a stunning dress you're wearing!



stunning

/ ˈstʌnɪŋ /

adjective

  1. informal.
    very attractive, impressive, astonishing, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈstunningly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • stunning·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stunning1

First recorded in 1660–70; stun + -ing 2
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Example Sentences

The riveted handles are designed to give you a great grip and remain cool while you work your way through a stunning stack of crepes.

The so-called “super-resolution” can now be done with pretty stunning results.

Salesforce stock soared a stunning 27% yesterday—its biggest jump ever—on the day after it was announced that it would be added to the Dow Jones index.

From Fortune

The Lincoln Project’s stunning commercials are clearly getting under his skin.

Based on TikTok’s stunning growth rate—it claims it had around 40 million users last October before topping 100 million this August—it could match or surpass Instagram by next year.

From Fortune

When a mother puts stunning pictures of her little girl up on social media, she may make her a star.

Rather, Mahone is well aware of, and repeatedly stresses, the stunning rise to fame he has experienced.

The contrast with the Wilson grand jury is a stunning illustration of the racial double standards in criminal justice.

On each coast, the Caribbean and the Pacific, there are stunning beaches.

The promo featured several stunning women in their underwear.

Marius, paler than his stunning had left him, leaned more heavily against the door-post, and looked on with bloodshot eyes.

The separation from Fennefos, and Henrietta's death conjoined, inflicted a stunning blow, which both chilled and hardened her.

This Bristoe fiasco was a stunning blow to the Rebel pursuit, and greatly checked their incursions.

A stunning crash of thunder rolled across the sky, and the team plunged into a frantic gallop.

Besides all this, my poor mother nearly lost her reason under the stunning blow which had fallen on her.

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More About Stunning

What does stunning mean?

Stunning essentially means something or someone causes such a huge impact that you are stunned from pain or a wave of emotion.

Stunning can describe something or someone that literally causes physical pain, as in The kickboxer suffered a stunning blow to her face. 

Stunning is also used figuratively to describe something or someone that overwhelms you emotionally or has the potential to overwhelm you emotionally, as in The acrobats performed a stunning routine of flips and cartwheels. 

Finally, stunning can also describe something or someone that is especially beautiful or marvelous, as in The actress wore a stunning dress to the red carpet. You might also use dazzling or gorgeous.

Example: In a stunning act of arrogance, the dictator built a solid gold statue of himself and placed it in the city square. 

Where does stunning come from?

The first records of stunning come from around 1660. It combines the word stun, meaning “to daze, astonish, or overwhelm” and the suffix -ing. If something is stunning, then it is going to stun a person in one way or another.

Stunning refers to things, actions, or people that are so overwhelming that you have to pause for a moment. Stunning is used both positively and negatively.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to stunning?

  • stunningly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for stunning?

What are some words that share a root or word element with stunning

What are some words that often get used in discussing stunning?

How is stunning used in real life?

Stunning is a common word that people use to attempt to describe things, events, or people that have overwhelmed them.

Try using stunning!

Which of the following words is a synonym of stunning?

A. boring
B. amazing
C. terrible
D. good

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